Body found in river near Rifle not that of kayaker

The Garfield County Coroner’s Office said Tuesday that a body found over the weekend in the Colorado River near Rifle has been determined not to be that of a kayaker who disappeared in May on the Crystal River.

The identity of the person found Saturday is undetermined, said deputy coroner Lanny Grant, but it is not Uriah Shaffer. Shaffer, 39, of Carbondale, overturned his kayak May 31 after entering the river below Marble with four other men. Authorities searched for him for four days without success.

“The body is not consistent with that case,” Grant said. “There are some really remarkable physical differences,” Grant said.

The person found Saturday appears to be older, perhaps in his 50s, Grant said, adding that Garfield County doesn’t have any missing persons cases that appear to be a match.

The man found by rafters Saturday likely drowned, and foul play is not suspected, he said.

The body has been autopsied and fingerprinted, and identification efforts will continue.